A posting on the Great War Forum has made me think. Can anyone tell me if the above man ,( Francis Arthur Jefferson), from Ulverston, Lancashire is any relation of Stan Laurel (Arthur Stanley Jefferson), also from Ulverston, Lancashire. Thanks.
I think the question has been asked before. There is no indication in any of the accounts I have. He came from 70 Sunderland Terrace Ulverston and a street is now named after him in the town. After the war he moved to Barrow before emigrating to Buffalo, New York state. He returned to the UK in 1974, settling in Bolton and became a familiar figure at the Lancashire Fusiliers Association. His VC was stolen in January 1982 (has it ever been recovered?) and a few months later he tragically committed suicide at the age of 61.
Ah two of the 3 most famous inhabitants of Ulverston (the other being Basil Weston)................Never heard any mention that Frank Jefferson & Stan Laurel were related in any way. As a former pupil of Ulverston Victoria High School I remember the large photo of Frank Jefferson hanging in the school library at the lower school (the old higher grade & technical school). I wonder what became of it as they knocked the building down about 5/6 years ago when they merged the two school sites to the Upper school about a mile away.
Presumably you've seen the recent photo of the scene of Jefferson's VC on Paul rred's 'Return to Italy' thread elsewhere on this forum.
Originally posted by BAYERNWALD@Jun 10 2004, 05:46 PM A posting on the Great War Forum has made me think. Can anyone tell me if the above man ,( Francis Arthur Jefferson), from Ulverston, Lancashire is any relation of Stan Laurel (Arthur Stanley Jefferson), also from Ulverston, Lancashire. Thanks. Croon Why not ask this in the "Baker Pals"? People there have access to the 1901 Census, 1891 Census etc. If they are related it ought to be able to be spotted.
I am sorry to report that my friend Colonel Kevin Hill MC MBE, Jefferson's Company Commander at Cassino has just died. He was a proud old boy of Bury Grammar School and for many years honorary colonel of our school cadet corps.
Very sorry to read that Mark; I was very grateful for his notes on the Jefferson VC action which you sent me, when I was out there in May.
Sorry to bring this up after so many years but for those who are still interested... Francis Jefferson and Stan Laurel are actually related. Francis was my Granddad's cousin and he told me about the relation with Stan Laurel and himself. my Grandma has the family tree confirming this and if anybody would like to see it then I'm happy to upload a picture once I get hold of it.
I only found this recently, I've been trying to track down the link between the two trees. I would love to find the actual connection. I'm convinced it's true, when you look at the portrait photo of Frank, he is very similar in appearance to Stan .